Motorcycle trailer

ABSTRACT

A motorcycle trailer with an aerodynamic storage compartment and a two-wheel independent suspension. Swing arm suspensions for the wheels include swing arms pivotally mounted to the trailer above the wheel axle, wherein the swing arms are supported by wheel suspension shock absorbers. A suspension spring supported hitch design enables the motorcycle to rapidly move up and down independently of the trailer pitch velocity to reduce affecting the motorcycle. The aerodynamic storage compartment, the wheel suspension, and the suspension spring supported hitch help maintain a smooth ride for the motorcycle pulling the trailer and reduce the aerodynamic drag and associated fuel consumption and rear tire wear of the motorcycle, and the motorcycle aft frame fatigue.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to motorcycle trailers. More specifically, it relates to trailers that have an aerodynamic storage compartment and a two wheel independent suspension where the suspension mount on the trailer is above the axle of the tire. A suspension spring assembly for the hitch and draw bar is provided to reduce the impact on the motorcycle caused by the trailer's pitch axis inertia. With the pivot mounting of the swing arm being above the wheel axle when the trailer hits a bump, the wheel's motion is retreating from the bump. This reduces the vertical acceleration of the wheel hitting the bump, resulting in lower vertical forces on the trailer.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are a large number of motorcycle trailers on the market that try to be aerodynamic. One attempt at aerodynamics was by changing the shape of the trailer to have the front of the trailer have a somewhat pointed nose on it. Other variations for aerodynamics were to have the front angle the air to the ground, over the top, or both. While the front of prior art trailers directed the air, the back usually remains square and therefore does nothing with the air flow off the back of the trailer to help the aerodynamics of the trailer. Also other prior art trailers have just made the trailers smaller than the motorcycle so that the motorcycle diverts most, if not all, of the wind. Even if the smaller trailer has less wind resistance, there is also less room for cargo.

Some prior art has a single axle suspension for two-wheel motorcycle trailers, while other prior art uses independent suspension to make the ride of the trailer smoother over rough roads. The suspension systems that do include swing arms have the arm angle up from a lower pivot location to a higher point at the axle of the wheel. The swing arm coming up to the wheel axle must rise more steeply when it hits a bump and therefore there is a rougher ride due to higher vertical acceleration. Most prior art has a single rigid hitch and drag bar which resists the vertical motion of the motorcycle going over bumps, increasing the vertical loading of the motorcycle's rear frame. The high vertical loading not only reduces the enjoyment of the ride, but increases the fatigue of the rear frame of the motorcycle.

In the Wagner U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,001, there is a two-wheel independent suspension motorcycle cargo trailer. In this trailer there is a low center of gravity and an independent suspension, versus a transverse common axle and suspension for both wheels, which both were to reduce drag and give a smoother ride. The wheel suspension consists of a swing arm and air shocks to reduce the effects of bumps in the road. The swing arm is mounted on the trailer in a location lower that the attachment to the wheel axle. This prior art tries to reduce wind drag only by lowering the cargo trailer to the ground and leaving it with straight flat edges for the wind to catch.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an aerodynamic motorcycle cargo pull trailer. The panel shapes of the front panel and top and sides of the forward portion of the storage compartment join together to create an aerodynamic suction on the trailer that results from the acceleration of the air flow over these curving surfaces. The rear and downward slope of the top and the rear and upward slope of the bottom, plus the tapering together of the rear side panels, create thrust from the recompressing of the decelerating air as it passes over the trailer. The overall shape of the front, top, side, and back of the storage compartment make the trailer aerodynamic.

A suspension spring supported hitch and drawbar design enables the trailer to move up and down in the pitch axis to reduce affecting the motorcycle. The trailer has two independent suspension wheels. The pivots for the swing arms of the wheel suspensions are mounted above the location of the wheel axles for the trailer. Wheel suspension shock absorbers are attached from the chassis to the swing arms to reduce the amount that the trailer is affected by bumps in the road. The location of the swing arm attachment is designed to lessen the rough ride normally caused when a trailer hits a bump in the road.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the frame, the hitch coupler, and the suspension system of the trailer for this invention with the storage compartment removed to better show the parts of the trailer.

FIG. 2 is a close view of the right tire suspension and the support arch for that suspension.

FIG. 3 a is a right side view of the hitch coupler with the first and second connectors

FIG. 3 b is a left side view of the hitch coupler with the first and second connectors

FIG. 4 is a view of the trailer with the storage compartment visible and on the trailer.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the right side section of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 6 is a front right view of the front, and right side sections as well as the top of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 7 is a front left view of the front, and left side sections as well as the top of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 8 is a front view of the front section of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 9 is a top view of the top and parts of the front, and rear sections of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 10 is a back right view of the rear and right side sections and the top of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 11 is a back view of the rear and top of the aerodynamic storage compartment

FIG. 12 is a bottom left view of the left side and front sections of the aerodynamic storage compartment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-12 illustrate an aerodynamic portable trailer 10 that can be pulled by a motorcycle. In FIG. 1, the trailer has a center second connector 11 made up of a hollow square or rectangular beam. Second connector 11 inserts into center support bar 67 at reference point AB (the being of the main frame of the trailer). The trailer 10 has two side support rails 15 and 14 that run horizontally on the left and right sides of the center support bar 67 respectively. Front lateral support bar 12 crosses the center support bar 67, perpendicularly at reference point AB and is attached to the center support bar 67 at that point (where the second connector 11 is inserted). The forward most end of side support rail 15 is attached on the bottom and left end of front lateral support bar 12 at reference point AD, and runs perpendicularly away from the front lateral support bar 12 toward the rear of the trailer. The forward most end of side support rail 14 is attached on the bottom and right end of front lateral support bar 12 at reference point AE, and runs perpendicularly away from the front lateral support bar 12 toward the rear of the trailer. Side support rails 14 and 15 are tapered in toward the trailer at both ends. Middle lateral support bar 13 attaches at both sides to support rails 14 (at reference point CE) and 15 (at reference point CD) as well at the end of the center support rail 67 at reference point BC which ends before the front of right tire 70 and left tire 71. Middle lateral support bar 13 extends beyond both of the side support rails 14 and 15 for the attachment of two swing arm pivot mount structures 17 and 29. Rear lateral support bar 16 attaches the rear end of the side support rails 14 (reference point EF) and 15 (reference point DF) together by attaching to the inside edges of both rails 14 and 15. Rear lateral support bar 16 runs transversely between side support rails 14 and 15.

Seen the best in FIG. 2, swing arm mount structure 17 extends vertically from the right end of middle lateral support bar 13, with the opening for the swing arm 22 toward the rear of the trailer. Swing arm 22 is composed of a first and second end wherein the first end is connected to the swing arm mount structure 17 by pivot pin 24 and bushing set 25 and 68. The first end being the connection point for swing arm 22 in the swing arm mount structure 17 is above that of the axle of right tire 70 as a result of suspension shock absorber 21 during normal operation, so swing arm 22 angles down and to the rear of the trailer while in a normal position. Axle 23 is attached at the second end of swing arm 22 by weld rings 81 a and 81 b on the right and left sides of swing arm 22, respectively, which is the end opposite of the swing arm mount structure 17.

Seen best in FIG. 2, the first end of member 18 is attached (welded) to the left front portion of the swing arm mount structure 17 and extends up and back. On the second end of member 18, adaptor 19 attaches member 18 to the first end of leg member 20. Adaptor 19 is composed of left and right angled flat sections 73 and 72 respectively. Sections 73 and 72 of adaptor 19 extend from second end of member 18 and then make an angle down and to the rear of the trailer toward first end of leg member 20. The second end of leg member 20 is then attached to side support rail 14 after extending down and to the rear from adaptor 19. The connection of member 18, adaptor 19, and leg member 20 creates a support arch from swing arm mount structure 17 to side support rail 14. Suspension shock absorber 21 is connected from adaptor 19 (by connecting pin 28) to swing arm connector 26 (by connecting pin 27). Swing arm connector 26 is mounted on the top of the second end of swing arm 22 (the same end as axle 23). The support arch made up of member 18, adaptor 19 and leg member 20 is attached to the chasse at the intersection of adaptor 19 and the second end of member 18 by bracket 79, which is attached to the intersection of adaptor 19 and the second end of member 18. The combination of swing arm mount structure 17, swing arm 22, suspension shock absorber 21, and support arch made up of member 18, adaptor 19 and leg member 20 completes the suspension system for the right tire 70.

Seen in FIG. 1, swing arm mount structure 29 extends vertically from the left end of middle lateral support bar 13, with the opening for the swing arm 41 toward the rear of the trailer. Swing arm 41 is composed of a first and second end and the first end of swing arm 22 is connected to the swing arm mount structure 29 by pivot pin 24 and bushing set 37 and 69. The connection point for swing arm 41 in the swing arm mount structure 29 is above the axle of left tire 71 as a result of suspension shock absorber 33 during normal operation, so swing arm 41 angles down and to the rear of the trailer while in a normal position. Axle 23 is attached to the second end of swing arm 41 by weld rings 82 a and 82 b on the left and right sides of swing arm 41 respectively, which is the opposite end from the swing arm mount structure 29.

Seen in FIG. 1, the first end of member 30 is attached (welded) to the right front portion of the swing arm mount structure 29 and extends up and back. On the second end of member 30, adaptor 31 attaches member 30 to the first end of leg member 32. Adaptor 31 has left and right angled flat sections 75 and 74 respectively. Sections 77 and 74 of adaptor 31 extend from the second end of member 30 and then make an angle down and to the rear of the trailer toward leg member 32. The second end of leg member 32 is then attached to side support rail 15. The connection of member 30, adaptor 31, and leg member 32 creates a support arch from swing arm mount structure 29 to side support rail 15. Suspension shock absorber 33 is connected from adaptor 31 (by connecting pin 40) to swing arm connector 35 (by connecting pin 39). Swing arm connector 35 is mounted on the top of the second end of swing arm 41 (the same end as axle 34). The support arch made up of member 30, adaptor 31 and leg member 32 is attached to the chasse at the intersection of adaptor 31 and the second end of member 30 by bracket 80, which is attached to the intersection of adaptor 31 and the second end of member 30. The combination of swing arm mount structure 29, swing arm 41, suspension shock absorber 33, and support arch made up of member 30, adaptor 31 and leg member 32 completes the suspension system for the left tire 71.

In FIG. 3, the front of second connector 11 is attached (welded) to two angled pieces of steel 41 and 42 on the left and right, respectively, that angle up and to the front of the trailer hitch (away from second connector 11). FIG. 4 shows the hitch coupler 83 at the end of the drawbar which comprises first connector 43 and second connector 11. First connector 43 is attached to the first connector support 46 (which angle up and to the rear of the trailer from the coupler) by welding both pieces to parallelogram flat pieces of metal 44 and 45 on the left and right sides of first connector 43 and first connector support 46, respectively. At the intersection of the first connector 43, first connector support 46, and pieces 44 and 45 are all attached by pivot rod 47 and bushing mounts 65 and 66 on the left and right side of coupler 43 respectively (to allow the first connector 43 and first connector support 46 to pivot) to pieces 41 and 42. First connector 43 is a standard first connector to attach a trailer to the towing ball 76 of the towing vehicle 78 (a standard motorcycle). Towing ball 76 is attached to towing vehicle 78 by towing hitch 77. First connector support 46 is attached (welded) to connection piece 48 which is then connected to shock absorbing spring 50 by pin 49. Shock absorbing spring 50 angles down and to the rear and is attached to the second connector 11 by pin 51 and connector 52 that is welded to the top of the second connector 11. The shock absorbing spring 50 and the pivot rod 47 enables the trailer to move up and down without moving the towing vehicle 78 a great amount.

FIGS. 3-12 show an illustration of storage compartment 52 which is composed of front section 53, right side section 54, back section 55, left side section 56, top 57, and bottom 63. Side 54 is on the right side of compartment 52 and has a hub cutout for right tire 70. Right fender 66 is attached around the cutout for right tire 70 on the ride side panel 54. Side 56 is on the left side of compartment 52 and has a hub cutout for left tire 71. Left fender 65 is attached around the cutout for left tire 71 on the left side panel 56. The front section 53 of the storage compartment has a first front panel member 58 with portions 58 a and 58 b as well as a second front panel member 59 with portions 59 a and 59 b. Bottom 63 of the storage compartment 52 is attached to the bottom edge of portions 59 a and 59 b of front section 53, as well as the bottom edges of side sections 54 and 56 and rear 55. Bottom 63 is also attached to the chasses along the front lateral support bar 12, the middle lateral support bar 13, and the brackets 79 and 80.

As shown in FIGS. 4, and 6-8, the point of intersection of portions 58 a, 58 b, 59 a, and 59 b of the front section 53 (reference point 53 a), portion 58 a slopes up and to the rear of the compartment 52 vertically toward the top 57 along the line of intersection of portions 58 a and 58 b and out and to the rear of the compartment 52 horizontally toward the left side section 56 along the line of intersection of portions 58 a and 59 a. The point of intersection between front section 53, left side section 56 and top 57 is the point of portion 58 a that is the most up and to the rear of compartment 52 from point 53 a. At reference point 53 a portion 58 b slopes up and to the rear of compartment 52 vertically toward top 57 along the line of intersection of portions 58 a and 59 b and out and to the rear of compartment 52 horizontally toward right side section 54 along the line of intersection of portions 58 b and 58 b. The point of intersection between front section 53, right side section 54 and top 57 is the point of portion 58 b that is the most up and to the rear of compartment 52 from point 53 a.

As shown in FIGS. 4, and 6-8, at reference point 53 a portion 59 a slopes down and to the rear of compartment 52 vertically toward bottom 63 along the line of intersection of portions 59 a and 59 b and out and to the rear of compartment 52 horizontally toward left side section 56 long the line of intersection of portions 58 a and 59 a. The point of intersection between front section 53, left side section 56 and the bottom 63 is the point of portion 59 a that is the most below and to the rear of compartment 52 from point 53 a. At reference point 53 a portion 59 b slopes down and to the rear of compartment 52 vertically toward bottom 63 along the line of intersection of portions 59 a and 59 b and out and to the rear of compartment 52 horizontally toward right side section 54 along the line of intersection of portions 58 b and 59 b. The point of intersection between front section 53, right side section 56 and bottom 63 is the point of portion 59 b that is the most below and to the rear of compartment 52 from point 53 a. The sloping of portions 58 a, 58 b, 59 a and 59 b of compartment 52 combine as a rounding effect to create aerodynamic suction.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the right side section 54 is made up of portions 54 a, 54 b, and 54 c, and 54 d. Portion 54 a finishes the sloping of 58 b into portion 54 c (rounding the top edge between first front panel member 58 and right side section 54), and portion 54 b finishes the sloping of 59 b into portion 54 d (rounding the bottom edge between second front panel member 59 and right side section 54). Portion 54 c slopes up and to the center toward top 57 from the line of intersection of portions 54 c and 54 d, while 54 d slopes down and to the center toward bottom 63 from the same line of intersection.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 12, left side 56 is made up of portions 56 a, 56 b, and 56 c, and 56 d. Portion 56 a finishes the sloping of 58 a into portion 56 c (rounding the top edge between first front panel member 58 and right side section 56), and portion 56 b finishing the sloping of 59 a into portion 56 d (rounding the bottom edge between second front panel member 59 and right side section 56). Portion 56 c slopes up and to the center toward top 57 from the line of intersection of portions 56 c and 56 d, while 56 d slopes down and to the center toward bottom 63 from the same line of intersection.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, top 57 attaches to front section 53 by a hinge 84 along the line of intersection between front section 53 and top 57, and as seen in FIG. 9, latches at rear 55 in the center of the line of intersection between rear 55 and top 57.

In FIG. 9, top 57 is composed of first upper member 60 which is made up of portions 60 a, 60 b, 60 c and 60 d, and second upper panel member 64, which is made up of portions 64 a, 64 b, 64 c and 64 d.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6-8, the front left portion 60 a of top 57 continues the slope of portion 58 a with a steep incline at the line of intersection between 58 a and 60 a and a less incline near the center of the front left portion 60 a and the center of top 57. Front left portion 60 a slopes down and to front section 53 from reference point 57 a (in the middle of top 57) along the line of intersection between portions 60 a and 60 b. Front left portion 60 a also slopes down and to left side section 56 from reference point 57 a along the line of intersection between portions 60 a and 64 a. Portion 60 c is on the left side of 60 a and forms a steep rounded decline to left side section 56.

In FIGS. 4-7, front right portion 60 b of top 57 continues the slope of portion 58 b with a steep incline at the line of intersection between 58 b and 60 b and a lesser incline near the center of front right portion 60 b and the center of top 57 to reference point 57 a at the intersection of top portions 60 a, 60 b, 64 a and 64 b which completes the rounding out of the aerodynamic suction. Front right portion 60 b slopes down and to front section 53 from reference point 57 a along the line of intersection between portions 60 a and 60 b. Front right portion 60 b also slopes down and to the right side section 54 from reference point 57 a along the line of intersection between portions 60 b and 64 b. Portion 60 d is on the right side of 60 b and forms a steep rounded decline to right side section 54.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 10 and 11, back left portion 64 a of top 57 starts at reference point 57 a to taper down toward rear 55 along the line of intersection for back portions 64 a and 64 b, and down and to the left toward left side section 56. Portion 64 c is on the left side of 64 a and forms a steep rounded decline to left side section 56 so as to capture thrust from the recompressing air flow.

In FIGS. 4-6, 10 and 11, back right portion 64 b of top 57 starts at reference point 57 a to taper down toward rear 55 along the line of intersection for back portions 64 a and 64 b, and out and down to the right toward right side section 54. Portion 64 d is on the right side of 64 b and forms a steep rounded decline to right side section 54 so as to capture thrust from the recompressing air flow.

FIGS. 5, and 9-11, rear 55 of storage compartment 52 is made up of left rear portion 61, and right rear portion 62. Rear portions 61 and 62 slope down and to the rear of storage compartment 52 starting from top 57 and going toward bottom 63, connecting with bottom 63 to complete storage compartment 52.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the specification and following claims. 

1. A motorcycle trailer apparatus comprising: a) a frame means having a hitch coupler member for attaching to a motorcycle and a storage compartment mounted on the frame means; b) said hitch coupler member having a first connector for securing to a motorcycle and a second connector for securing to the trailer that is pivotally connected to the first connector and a shock absorbing spring means connecting the first and second connectors to allow controlled pivoting to absorb road shocks; c) left and right independent wheel suspension and swing arms having first and second ends with the first ends pivotally attached to the frame by swing arm pivot mount structures located higher than the second ends having wheel axles supporting wheels; and d) suspension shock absorbers mounted between the swing arms and the frame and extending the axels below the first end pivots during normal operation.
 2. The motorcycle trailer of claim 1, comprising: aerodynamic panels on the compartment to reduce drag and wind resistance.
 3. The motorcycle trailer of claim 1, comprising: a rearwardly extending first connector support connected to the first connector for supporting the shock absorbing spring means.
 4. A motorcycle trailer having an aerodynamic storage compartment comprising: a) a front section means and a first front panel member inclined upwardly and curving rearwardly and a second front panel member extending downwardly and curving rearwardly at a angle less than the angle of the first front to form a properly expanding front section of the compartment; b) an upper section means having a first upper panel member extending upwardly and rearwardly from the first front panel member and a second upper panel member extending downwardly and rearwardly from the first upper panel member to form a top of the compartment; c) a rear section means having a rear panel member extending downwardly and rearwardly from the second upper portion to form a rear of the compartment; d) side section means having side panel members connected to the front section, upper section and rear section supporting the forward expansion and rearward contraction of the storage compartment and having wheel wells to receive the wheels; and e) a lower section means to complete the aerodynamic storage compartment.
 5. The motorcycle trailer of claim 4, comprising: joining said aerodynamic panels on the compartment with rounded corners to produce gradual acceleration and deceleration of the air flow to reduce aerodynamic drag. 